Roisin Garton- BA (Hons) Illustration with Animation
My illustrative process explores the relationship between traditional and digital methods -illustrations finished in traditional media (inks and watercolours) begin with inspiration from digital, photographic art-making processes and aesthetics involving contrast, exposure and colour/light manipulation. By contrast, my digital illustrations start as physical paintings on paper before I process them digitally for a crisp, professional finish.
Though my work can be escapist and playful in colour and style, it aims to shed light on personal yet universal, nitty gritty aspects of the innately imperfect human experience that tend to be overlooked, ignored and hidden. I touch on emotional topics, interactions/conversations, day-to-day mundane experiences, intimate moments and private rituals which are widely relatable yet considered ‘TMI’, social taboo or simply not important, substantial, aesthetic, beautiful or profound enough for discussion – let alone artwork! In my opinion, however, these disregarded, inbetween moments of our everyday are full of significance, substance and meaning – meaning which my work seeks to enlighten and uplift.
My final degree project – ‘Water Damage’ – explores the insidious, often unnoticed yet increasingly prevalent social, psychological and physical harms brought about by digital dependency and screen addiction thanks to ever-developing ‘user-friendly’ tech. Inspired by valuable lessons learned about my own connection to real life (or lack there of) after a scrolling-on-the-toilet mishap left me smartphoneless for about two months, the project draws on conversations with the people around me, highlighting their personal smartphone troubles. Demonstrating just how many aspects of life this disconnect manifests in, the project covers everything from day-to-day gripes and subtle disappointments to life-or-death scenarios. Water Damage speculates that there is a point where ‘user-friendliness’ stops improving our quality of life and starts getting in the way of it, encouraging viewers to consider how some extra screen-free time might improve their own lives.
